It's a fact, Marblehead does have talent

By Neil Zolotmarblehead@wickedlocal.com

Wednesday

Feb 14, 2018 at 2:09 PMFeb 14, 2018 at 2:09 PM

Eliza Howells takes Train to victory during annual talent show

Marblehead High School senior Eliza Howells won the Marblehead's Got Talent final singing Train’s "When I Look into the Sky," while accompanying herself on piano. The win brought her $2,000 in scholarship money for college.

“I’m so grateful,” she said.

Howell's fate was decided by the 75 or so people in attendance at the Marblehead Rotary sponsored event that took place Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Boston Yacht Club.

“We’re very proud of her,” said dad, David Howells. “We’re very happy for her.”

“It’s a thrill,” added Eliza's mother, Kelley. “There was lot of hard work put in by all the kids and they were all great.”

Eliza Howell was one of seven finalists competing for scholarship funds.

Winning $1,500 for a second place finish was sophomore Gracie Curran, who sang "Think of Me" from "Phantom of the Opera," accompanied by recorded music.

“This is awesome,” she said referring to both her finish and the night.

George MacDonald picked up $1,000 with a third place finish for his performance of David Bowie's "A Space Oddity" while accompanying himself on guitar.

“I’m super happy,” he said of the result. “I can’t believe it.”

Other finalists, in order of appearance, included dancer Bella Gonzales, duetting pianists Elizabeth Bakhnov and Elizabeth Zhorov; singer and 2017 winner Mari Aoki and the bands Pleasant Street and From the Quiet.

“We have great talent here in Marblehead,” emcee Ron Amon said of the field. “These acts have been wonderful.”

Rotary president David Deutsch called the event “fantastic. The kids all did a wonderful job.”

The performances were given in a first floor lounge in the yacht club, except for that of Gonzales who, needing a floor, danced in the lobby. In between acts Rotary member Gene Arnould auctioned off prizes to help raise money for scholarships, including trips, Red Sox tickets, bottles of wine donated for the occasion and a night at the BYC July 4.

Called up to address the audience and the contestants while the votes were being tabulated was DJ (Donald Jr.) McLean, the first Marblehead’s Got Talent winner in 2010. He recently graduated from the Berklee School of Music and is working as a professional musician.